And you moreover, O child, shall be called Prophet of the Most High; For you shall go on in front before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,

Every ravine shall be filled up, and every mountain and hill levelled down, the crooked places shall be turned into straight roads, and the rugged ways into smooth;

but He passed through the midst of them and went His way.

But when they could find no way of doing so because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiling--bed and all--into the midst, in front of Jesus.

"Be glad at such a time, and dance for joy; for your reward is great in Heaven; for that is just the way their forefathers behaved to the Prophets!

"Alas for you when men shall all have spoken well of you; for that is just the way their forefathers behaved to the false Prophets!

John is the man about whom it is written, 'See, I am sending My messenger before thy face, and he shall make ready thy way before thee.'

"The sower," He said, "goes out to sow his seed; and as he sows, some of the seed falls by the way-side, and is trodden upon, or the birds of the air come and peck it up.

Those by the way-side are those who have heard, and then the Devil comes and carries away the Message from their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

That which fell among the thorns means those who have heard, but as they go on their way, the Message is stifled by the anxieties, wealth and gaieties of time, and they yield nothing in perfection.

And, as they proceeded on their way, a man came to Him and said, "I will follow you wherever you go."

Carry no purse, bag, nor change of shoes; and salute no one on your way."

Jesus replied, "A man was once on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell among robbers, who after both stripping and beating him went away, leaving him half dead.

Now a priest happened to be going down that way, and on seeing him passed by on the other side.

"The one who showed him pity," he replied. "Go," said Jesus, "and act in the same way."

For when, with your opponent, you are going before the magistrate, on the way take pains to get out of his power; for fear that, if he should drag you before the judge, the judge may hand you over to the officer of the court, and the officer lodge you in prison.

"Strain every nerve to force your way in through the narrow gate," He answered; "for multitudes, I tell you, will endeavour to find a way in and will not succeed.

"A second pleaded, "'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and am on my way to try them. Pray hold me excused.'

If not, while the other is still a long way off, he sends messengers and sues for peace.

I tell you that in the same way there will be rejoicing in Heaven over one repentant sinner--more rejoicing than over ninety-nine blameless persons who have no need of repentance.

"I tell you that in the same way there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one repentant sinner."

"So he rose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and pitied him, and ran and threw his arms round his neck and kissed him tenderly.

The Law and the Prophets continued until John came: from that time the Good News of the Kingdom of God has been spreading, and all classes have been forcing their way into it.

Perceiving this, He said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the Priests." And while on their way to do this they were made clean.

"On that day, if a man is on the roof and his property indoors, let him not go down to fetch it; and, in the same way, he who is in the field, let him not turn back.

As Jesus came near to Jericho, there was a blind man sitting by the way-side begging.

So he ran on in front and climbed up a mulberry tree to see Him; for He was about to pass that way.

But they could not find any way of doing it, for the people all hung upon His lips.

So they put a question to Him. "Rabbi," they said, "we know that you say and teach what is right and that you make no distinctions between one man and another, but teach God's way truly.

For indeed the Son of Man goes on His way--His pre-destined way; yet alas for that man who is betraying Him!"

And they arrested Him and led Him away, and brought Him to the High Priest's house, while Peter followed a good way behind.

"Were not our hearts," they said to one another, "burning within us while He talked to us on the way and explained the Scriptures to us?"

Then they related what had happened on the way, and how He had been recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.